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January 12, 2008
Roger Federer's desire for further greatness
By Leo Schlink, Herald Sun
ROGER Federer has an indulgence. It has nothing to do with collecting grand slam titles at will, steadily amassing fortune and fame, or being the envy of virtually every athlete in the world.
Federer's excess is normality or, as he puts it, "having a regular life".
And on this day, this is as close as Federer gets to being ordinary - at least in public.
Federer is pressing the flesh, expertly working a room full of strangers at Crown with ease.
Dressed in blue jeans, black shirt, brown shoes and belt, Federer glides from handshake to handshake. Not a smile or hair out of place.
Not once during what must be an exhausting exercise in maintaining poise and politeness does Federer's impervious guard drop.
In Federer's life, this is all part of the deal.
As an ambassador with Tiger Woods and Thierry Henry for the Gillette Champions program, Federer is obliged to carry out certain duties.
It is business, and if there is one business Federer has cornered better than anyone else, it is the art of winning.
Not even a dozen grand slam titles - five Wimbledon, four US Open and three Australian Open crowns - has come close to satisfying Federer's voracious appetite.
In a slightly unguarded moment, Federer spoke briefly of the fantasy of being a film subject -- and who he would like to play him.
"Anybody cool like Brad Pitt, Matt Damon . . . James Bond," he laughed.
And then it was back to what drives him most. Tennis and the opportunities it affords.
Federer, 26, has already outlined his intention to "play through generations like (Andre) Agassi and (Jimmy) Connors".
He has earmarked the 2012 London Olympics tennis at Wimbledon as the perfect setting for the ultimate blending of his signature excellence.
That is four years and 15 major tournaments away.
Almost everybody, including record-holder Pete Sampras (14), expects Federer will then stand alone as the winner of more singles grand slams than any other man.
But first things first.
"Well, it is a very exciting and interesting year, I think, with the Olympic Games coming around. The calendar is obviously a little bit different to the other ones," Federer said.
"The French Open is the one I haven't won yet, so it seems to be the one I'm really looking forward to. But at the end it is always Wimbledon that sticks out the most for me.
"There's a lot of highlights, especially in a short period of time.
"From the French Open through to Wimbledon, Olympic Games and US Open in three or four months, that's a huge swing. Hopefully I can pick up some wins there.
"Starting here at the Australian Open is my first focus and finishing the year at No. 1 is a logical goal, because that is what I've been able to do the past few years."
Federer, battling illness, might not be as potent as he has been at Melbourne Park over the past four years, a period in which he has lost only one of 27 matches.
He also returns to Rod Laver Arena without Tony Roche in his corner.
Roche's departure in May has not slowed the Federer juggernaut, as shown by a runner-up finish at the French Open before Wimbledon and US Open victories.
As with most things in Federer's carefully-planned existence, thought has been given to Roche's successor - possibly Swiss Davis Cup captain Severin Luthi.
"Of course I thought about it on vacation, just going through all the different options of 'what do I need, what do I want?," Federer said.
"Should I do it now or later?
"I feel very good actually in the way the situation is now with the captain (Luthi).
"He is doing a great job helping me out. I think he's going to come again to Dubai in February and work with me again there and also in the future.
"In time I might get like a mentor or specialist on the side. This hasn't been decided yet. I'm going to think about it."
Whoever Federer picks, Roland Garros remains the Holy Grail.
Federer twice came close under Roche, foiled each time by world No. 2 Rafael Nadal.
Federer believes the one triumph that would surely remove the last, lingering doubt over his worthiness to be regarded the greatest of all time is within reach.
"I think the last three years I've learnt a lot about how to play on the surface (clay), how to play the best on it and also how to win against the best," Federer said.
"I think I know now also what I need to work on in my game to win there, whereas maybe three years ago I came into the French Open and I knew I'm a good claycourt player, if the draw falls my way I can win there.
"But it was more based on luck, I would think. Now it is much more serious, more professional.
"I think it is better this way to approach the French Open. I'm more relaxed this way, more settled. It's a tough one to win.
"I think I have the game and that's why I've come so far.
"I was a bit unfortunate having to play Rafael in the past three years, he's got an incredible record on clay."
False modesty is not part of the Federer personality.
He loves his station in life and revels in the fact he is a fixture in best-ever discussions alongside Sampras, Rod Laver and Don Budge.
The French Open is a subject of some sensitivity to a man who is rightly affronted by the notion of: "You can't be much good if you can't win the French Open".
"It is for others to say," Federer said. "I really hope I can break the record of Pete Sampras. I really hope I can win the French Open.
"Maybe already now I'm one of the greatest of all time. You still have to wait and see how my whole career turns out, until it's all over."
While Paris in spring might have carried more barbs than the Swiss ever imagined, London in summer has been his making.
He will return to Wimbledon in June chasing a sixth successive title. He is momentarily shaken by that thought as he continues to reflect in memories of last season's success.
"I haven't thought about the sixth at Wimbledon too much yet, but five was a huge hurdle, to be honest," Federer said.
"When I came off the court I really felt this is somehow everything I ever wanted to achieve, five Wimbledons.
"I didn't know it before and then all of a sudden it just felt right, those five Wimbledons, and now that I'm going for six, it's quite surreal, actually."
Should Federer succeed again at the home of tennis, he will not be swayed from his opinion of who the best player he has seen is.
"It's gotta be Pete (Sampras) just because of what he's achieved," Federer said of the American he recently played against in a three-match exhibition tour in Asia.
"And he can take it away from you. You don't decide whether you're gonna win or lose, he decides.
"I saw it there on the exhibition tour, he was still good.
"The surface got quicker and quicker and the ball got lower and lower and he was great."
Of Federer's contemporary foes, Nadal stands out.
"What Nadal has been able to do at his young age has been phenomenal," Federer said. "I really admire his fighting spirit and the way he comes into every match and just the way he fights and plays.
"It's a unique playing style and I need a rival in some ways as well. I think we have a good contrast, different attitudes and different looks.
"I didn't like to talk like this a few years ago because I never thought I needed a rival, but it's good to have some kind of rivalry."
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